Thank You Genie

Aug 24, '10 2:13 AM

One day in 2003, my son Michael came home happily holding a tiny pup in his arms given by one of his friends. We named her Genie, and from that day on Genie has touched and changed our lives.

We never knew her breed but her stance and intelligence told us that she was no ordinary dog. Her ears were always alert, her big clear eyes would look at us and we definitely understood what she was trying to convey. It wasn’t hard making Genie understand us as well. At the mere change of my voice pitch, she understood if I was mad at her or if I found out that she again sat at the forbidden couch. I knew she understood me because she would slowly walk away from me with head down and tail intact. She would wait for a chance to reconcile with me by staying a few meters away from me, laying flat on her stomach and looking at me waiting for a cue. Looking so pathetic and apologetic, Genie never failed to get my forgiveness. So I called her name and she happily wagged her tail and approached me. We would be friends again.

Thank you Genie...I won't forget you ever.

Having been ever so busy with chores and my job, I managed to teach her a few tricks. She stood on her hind legs and waved her two front legs if I said “beg” whenever I fed her. She didn’t touch our food knowing that it was not meant for her, but she waited just in case there were some leftovers. No matter how hungry she got, she was always gentle in getting the piece of meat from my hand whenever I gave her a taste of what I was eating. She danced with me whenever I did my dance exercises by standing on her two legs and moving forward and backward. She always approached me whenever I was sitting on a chair, ready for a pat on her head, a rub on her belly. I said “hug” and she obediently put her two front legs on my lap and gently rested her head against my arms and chest. How I love her so much.


Before I could open the gate at the garage whenever I came home, she already knew that it was me out there. She would get so excited inside the house in anticipation of my being home at last. Genie would follow me around and watch me all day and all night. She guarded me the best she could and I knew she loved me as well, much more than I showed her.

We played rough games. I teased her a lot by letting her lay down on her back and spin her around on the floor. Then I dragged her around testing her patience and trust in me. She never got irritated and enjoyed the rough games. She trusted me so much.

For all the years that went by she was my companion, my bodyguard, my playmate, my friend, my buddy. She was there with me during my ups and downs. She was always waiting for me to come home.

Early this year I left for a trip abroad and I hugged her tightly before I left. She looked at me knowingly that I will be away for a long time. I remember those big round eyes staring at me.

I never got to see her again. She died while I was still abroad and my heart died with her. I was in tears and my body numb when I learned about the sad news.

I lost my Genie…..my friend, my buddy, my playmate, my bodyguard, my ever loyal companion. Though I lost her, she is never lost in my heart and thoughts.

Coming home is never the same again.